The Outer Limits (1963–1965): Season 1, Episode 3 - The Architects of Fear - full transcript

A secret group of scientists decide to surgically alter one of their members into an 'alien', in order to convince the world that an alien invasion is imminent. They hope that such a threat will force all governments to make peace with one another. However such a complex plan has many vulnerabilities... including the wife of the volunteer.

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You are about to participate
in a great adventure.

You are about to experience
the awe and mystery

which reaches
from the inner mind to...

Is this the day?

Is this the beginning
of the end?

There is no time to wonder.

No time to ask,
"why is it happening?



Why is it
finally happening?"

There is time only for fear,

for the piercing pain
of panic.

Do we pray,

or do we merely run now
and pray later?

Will there be a later,

or is this the day?

Gentlemen,
Monday's near miss

was the fourth
such incident

since the thermonuclear age
began.

So long as the nations
of this earth

are armed
against each other,

we're bound to have
more such accidents,

and eventually, soon,

one must prove fatal.

These nations must unite.

We... we must make them unite.

And, gentlemen,
we can make them unite.

We're here today
to proceed with our plan.

It is one of us who
must submit to that ordeal.

Now, I don't care what
reading of history you take.

The pattern is always the same.

Whenever a bacteria invasion
strikes or a fire rages

or a wild beast
roams the streets,

then, and only then,

do men
stop fighting each other

and work together
to save themselves.

A common enemy,
a common fear.

That is the only answer.

If all the men of the earth

are threatened by an enemy
from a hostile planet...

Well, gentlemen, we are
going to create that enemy

out of someone in this room.

To turn a human being
into a thing like that.

Suppose something
goes wrong.

The leading biologists

and medical men
of the world

will be examining our
enemy from outer space.

And they'll be fooled.

Our studies,
our surgical procedures,

our entire plan is perfected.

The man who's chosen

will be as perfect
as that thing in there.

A perfect inhabitant
of the planet theta.

Perfect?

Perfect.

All right, gentlemen.
It's agreed.

We've all
written our names.

"Allen Leighton."

Yeah, a little higher
to the left.

Ahh.

You know, you could
have had a great career

in a Turkish bath?

You'll want to know
how we're gonna do this.

We'll call in
the specialists

as they're needed.

I'm scheduled
to do the basic medicine

right here on you

if you want it that way.

Well, don't
just nod, Allen!

You have
to have complete...

Phil, you're
the only guy I choose.

Your entire system's
gonna take an incredible jolt.

You have to be able
to handle it physically

as well as, uh...

Emotionally.

Now, if you
can't, say so.

There's no shame.

We've been
through all this.

I know it!

I don't think it's
sunk in yet.

Are you aware
we're gonna

change every organ
in your body?

Yup.

You understand that
as soon as I hit you

with the calsus-
phelexus-medalinc-

nuzine hormone, there's
no turning back, Allen?

Yes.

Allen!

Go ahead.

Aren't you gonna let me in?

I'll be there
in a moment, darling.

Go ahead.

Hi.

Did I break up
something important...

I hope?

Art critic.

Something about the eyes,
red and glassy.

Yeah, all right.

Aw, come on.

I can window shop here.

I'm a married woman.

Oh, isn't that pretty?

Well, it's very pretty.

It's kind of for
a special occasion, though,

wouldn't you say?

Oh, do you mean,
am I...

No, not yet.

Honey, Dr. Truxel
has warned you

that you're just gonna
have to forget about that.

Well, Dr. Truxel seems
to have changed his mind.

Well, what? About what?

Oh, darling,

that's what I came
in town for today...

To see him.

Everything's OK.

Heart's
stopped murmuring.

It's just beating now.

I can have quintuplets
if I want to.

If it only happened
5 years ago.

Oh, Allen, you talk
as if we're pushing 80.

If something happened to me,

how would you
raise a child alone?

Happened to you?

Mm-mmm.

Mark against evil.

Phil?

Respiration's troubled.

I'm gulping for air.

That's expected
reaction, Allen.

I'll relieve pressure
in a minute,

so steady yourself.
You'll fall back.

I have to give you
one final jolt, Allen.

Hang tight.

Pressure will go up
to 7 atmospheres.

Put on your oxygen mask.

You all right?

How was it?

How was what?

It was your idea.

What was?

That I should open
up a Turkish bath.

Let me see the palms
of your hands.

Ah, yes, I see
a long journey

in your future...

During which
you will become

a small,
dark stranger.

Your cell
structure's

taken the nitrogen.

The transfer
should go smoothly.

How long until I begin
to sound like that?

Oh, I'm due at
my cropogenetic seminar.

You lie here
and rest, huh?

For at least an hour.

OK.

Al, I...

Al, I've been
avoiding this, but...

You'd better begin
winding up your activities

and decide how best
to arrange your...

Death. Right.

I hate to leave you.

You have to go?

To Peru of all places?

I didn't pick it.

I know.

Sometimes I wish

you'd just take some plain
old teaching job

at a college in Podunk.

A little late now,
folks.

Yeah.

Still, I wish you high-powered,
scientific brains

would do something
about this world

instead of tackling
all those others out there.

We could use a few
good, normal years ourselves.

What made you say that?

What, darling?

Nothing.

You know what
we really need

to stop fighting
among ourselves?

Something else to fight.
Somebody else.

Really. Something
has to come along

that'll scare us all
right out of our skins.

We stop fighting
each other,

we start fighting
the scarecrow, hmm?

That's a gorgeous
solution.

Well, honey, we don't
exactly fight it,

but we fear it,

and so we unite against it.

And if the threat
continues long enough,

we gradually become
used to being united.

We actually grow to like it.

Some scarecrows
don't even scare crows.

One might.

Yvette.

Allen, I've
changed my mind.

I am going
to the airport with you.

Well, I, uh...

Honey, Phil's gotta
go out to a meeting

after he drops me off,

and, uh, you'd
have to come home alone,

and I'd worry.

Please?

Mark against evil.

Allen.

Doctor.

It had to be
different enough

to have been conceived
on the planet theta,

yet conform to sound
aerodynamic principles.

What are you
using for metal?

We made a
spectroscopic analysis,

and came up
with something

that fits theta's
mineral formation.

It's 3 times lighter
than aluminum,

4 times the tensile
strength of steel.

Now let me show you
our overall plan.

Once we get you
into orbit,

you'll line up

with the Andromeda
constellation.

It'll look like
you're descending

directly from theta.

Then you'll
move into the arc here

to give you the correct
re-entry angle.

And you'll follow
the flight pattern

right to the U.N.

If you're on schedule,

you should get there

while the general
assembly is in session.

Where do you
want me to land,

in the middle
of the street?

No. No.

We want you to come down
right on the terrace

in front
of the secretariat.

It's wide enough.

If I miss by 100 feet,
I'll be in the east river.

Don't worry.

The capsule will float,

and you can even propel it
to the nearest shore.

You better start learning
to pilot your ship, Allen.

Don't get too fond
of that instrument panel.

You're gonna have one
with an infrared display system.

Very quick, Allen.

We've got a lot
of work to do

back at the lab.

In fact, we should
return tonight.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...

Want a cigarette?

No, thanks.

Any unusual reactions
to the treatment?

Some.

What, nightmares?

Heart palpitations?

Terrors?

Well, I can only sleep

for about 20 minutes
at a time,

then I wake up
in a sweat.

When I think about never
seeing Yvette again,

it gets bad.

Come on. Don't sit
on your fears. Uncork.

Can't see how
making a fuss

is gonna
help things any.

That's courage, Allen,
of the highest order.

Hemingway put it into words:

"Grace under fire."

You tell her yet?

Well, you're
gonna have to.

You can't
keep her hanging,

not hearing from me.

I was, uh, waiting
until they composed a telegram.

I'll do it today.

She's coming by for lunch.

She'll be here
any minute.

Phil, help!

Oh, here.

Hey.

You haven't heard
from Allen, of course.

Uh, yes, I... I have.

Ohh...

Oh, that... why didn't
he write to me?

They were flying
over the Andes.

Why wasn't it
in the papers?

It was a secret mission,

but I suppose it will be
if they ever find the plane.

No.

I don't believe it.

If he were dead...

I would know it.

No, he's not dead.

Yvette... Yvette!

Come on. Let me
take you home.

Come on.

We're all familiar
with kidney transplants.

Our problem here is
basically the same,

except of course,

we have massive
restructuring to do.

I'll do our first procedure
on the digestive tract,

combining the esophagus
and trachea in one tube.

Why not begin

with the blood chemistry
exchange of iron to copper?

I know what
you're thinking.

It would
facilitate healing,

but, uh...
It's too tricky.

We don't know
the overall effect.

Allen?
Al, what's wrong?

I was a little wobbly,

like I was seasick.

Comes in waves.

When did it start?

Just now.

Well, it could be
yesterday's shots,

but it should pass.

How bad is it?

It's nothing
I can't handle.

How's Yvette?

She loved you
very much.

Phil...

You will take care of her?

Sorry.

Doctor?

I suggest 3 stages.

Why not all major work...

Stomach, lungs,
gas diffusion

in one operation?

The healing
will take weeks.

How do we
keep him alive?

You're talking
about respiration.

We can handle it directly
through the bloodstream.

As a matter of fact,
that'll give us a chance

to recycle slowly
from oxygen to nitrogen.

I think
it's too much.

Easier on him

than going
through it 2 or 3 times.

Well, you might
be right.

Getting worse?

Allen!

Listen, there's more
to this levitation

than just the physical.

I am... I'm really
able to fly.

Are you aware of that?

Come on, Allen,
snap out of it!

Snap out of it!

It's me,
Phil Gainer!

No, I know Phil Gainer.

Professor Gainer.

Dr. Gainer.

Herr Oberdoktor Gainer,

allow me to present

these mad doctors here,

constant as you are of
the space-time continuum.

They're globules
of solid...

Propellant.

Come on.

To send me
on my long...

Journey...

Through the, um,
underworld

or the overworld.
Now, listen...

You gotta put, uh...

Pennies on my eyes.

OK, now.

Come on.

Come on, lie down.

According
to Fector's law...

I'm sorry. Come on.

Bzzt! Bzzt!

Heh heh heh!

We'd better tie him down.

You better
catch him first.

I see you all.

You have fat faces,
you know that?

Baby eyes
over baby pouts.

Come on.

Skitter along here
on your little rat's feet.

I am Callahan...

Uh, Cal... Caliban.

with a Ph.D.

Ha ha ha!

Baa baa black sheep,
have you any krell?

Upstairs, downstairs,
in my lady's nightshade.

All around the town,
crying through the locks,

- "are the children in their
beds?"

Stay back.

Stay back.

You think your putty little
hands can hold Prometheus?

Odysseus?

Tycho star?

Goosey, goosey gander,
whither you wander?

Back. Stay back.

I turn on this X-ray machine,
and it's no more you.

To heaven...

On the Roentgen rays.

Must be the nitrogen.

Could be any
of a dozen things.

Go around that way,

and get his
attention. Go on!

I want to talk
to my son!

Hello?

Hello? Who is it?

Who is it?

Who's there?

Who's there?!

You had
a schizophrenic episode.

When?

A few days ago.

We've had to keep
you under sedation.

I thought it was
a nightmare.

You did a lot
while I was out.

No, no, no, that's
normal tissue growth.

Did I hurt anybody?

No.

And it won't
happen again,

so don't worry
about it.

We found the cause.

It was one of
the hormone extracts.

We're going ahead.

I'll prepare you
for surgery.

You mustn't come in here.

I'm Mrs. Leighton.

My husband
worked here.

Please stay outside,
Mrs. Leighton.

What's the matter?

I want to see
Dr. Gainer!

Yvette, you mustn't
keep coming here.

I have to
ask you something.

I came here to get
Allen's things,

and the strangest
feeling came over me.

I can't shake it.

I have the feeling
he's here.

Yvette, you've lost
someone very close, but...

You can't keep on
with these morbid fantasies.

Allen is gone.

The other night,
the phone...

I went to answer it.

There was no one
there, but...

Yvette, now stop it!

He's dead. Accept it.

Please... go home.

You've got a baby
to think about now.

Body temperature?

All right.

It's all yours.

Starting
in the lung cavity.

Attach artificial lung.

Lungs removed.

Attach nitrogen system.

You'd better fix
the fluid balance first.

He's coming
from a dry planet.

2 microns
perceptible moisture.

Move, artificial lung
isn't handling the load.

Hypo!

Detach artificial lung.

Can you hear me?

It's blasting.

Sorry, Allen,
is that better?

All right,
you can answer us.

You're hooked into
the voice box.

It'll make
the sound for you.

Come on, Allen,
keep at it.

Imagine how
it felt to speak.

Odd sensation...

To speak...

With nothing moving.

You're doing fine.

Go on.

Very little...

Pain now,

but...

Occasional...

Bizarre...

Nerve patterns.

Toothache in arm.

Eyeballs itch.

Headache...

In back of neck.

How about psychological
reactions?

At first...

Deep depression.

Lifting now,

but feel removed,

in limbo.

Thoughts primitive.

Dream of... Yvette.

Dress shops.

Allen, Dr. Herschel's
been coordinating plans

for your space shot.

He wants to talk to you.

Is my mic registering?

I just spoke to our
people on the atoll.

We're flying
you out there.

The plan is to
send you into orbit

as a weather
satellite.

The flight
has been cleared

with the appropriate
government agencies.

They have no idea,
of course,

that we're
doing this.

Once in orbit,

you will be
retro-rocketed

to the predesignated
position,

then begin
re-entry sequence

to destination.

At arrival,
proceed directly

to the general
assembly.

See that
they realize

you're the first
to come,

that more can come
at any moment.

Allen...

The laser weapon.

Use it only
as an emergency.

Is there...

Anything you want
to say before...

Wait.

Can it...

Really work?

Allen, there are
no absolutes.

You know that
better than anyone,

but I put
your probability

of success at...

70, 80%.

Millions of
soldiers have gone

into battle
in wars of hate

with less odds
and with less cause.

I...

Did need that.

Thanks.

This is
Carl Ford in New York.

The latest on that unknown
space capsule,

knowledge of whose existence
is denied by everyone.

It is now descending
to earth.

It will enter
our atmosphere at 11:49 A.M.,

approximately
10 minutes from now.

According
to all calculations,

it should land
in this vicinity.

Listeners are urged
not to telephone newspapers

or the police.

Stayed tuned
to this station

for the latest
developments.

Is there any
indication of it?

The re-entry
pattern is off.

At 11:49,

the capsule entered
the earth's atmosphere

and all radio
contact was lost.

Officials are speculating

whether the space craft
met with an accident,

or its radio transmission
was cut off by design.

The capsule was
last received

by the point arquello
tracking station.

There he is!

But he's
not on target.

Not at the U.N.

He'll return to the lab.
We must be there.

Hey, you guys,
come here.

Hey, Bert, you think
that's that mystery thing

they've been talking
about on TV?

How would I know?

Let's go take a look.

Ginger!

Ginger!
Come back here!

Ginger!

Let's get
out of here.

What's that?

United laboratories.
Hurry!

Allen... it's Allen!

Yvette!

P- please try
to understand.

We thought that...

I know what you thought.

He told me
what you thought.

But how
could you think?!

It could've been
any of us.

We drew lots.

Men like you...

Using tricks.

A scarecrow would
change everything.

You killed him.

And for what?

Yvette...
if he could go

so far to save us all,

maybe everywhere,
people...

All of us could...

Might be shamed into
stooping just a little

to save ourselves.

Scarecrows and magic

and other fatal fears
do not bring people

closer together.

There is no magic
substitute for soft caring

and hard work,
for self-respect

and mutual love.

If we can learn this

from the mistake
these frightened men made,

then their mistake will not
have been merely grotesque.

It will at least
have been a lesson,

a lesson at last
to be learned.

We now return control of
your television set to you

until next week
at this same time,

when the control voice
will take you to...